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Perceived Neuroscience Knowledge And Counselor Self-Efficacy, Cristina Buus

Dissertations and Theses

There has been an increase in neuroscience research within the counseling field which has then been integrated into counseling practice. There is limited research, however, that investigates how this neuroscience information impacts counselors directly. This study investigated the association between counselor self-efficacy and perceived neuroscience knowledge. This study also sought to understand what factors were predictive of perceived neuroscience knowledge (gender, age, licensure tier, years of experience, CACREP-status, and perceived benefit of neuroscience knowledge). To answer the research questions, a multiple regression design was utilized to identify any factors that were predictive of perceived neuroscience knowledge. Additionally, a correlation was …

How Participation In A Peer-Led Writing Center Impacts Struggling Students’ Self-Efficacy And Motivation, Laura Peterson

Doctor of Education in Secondary and Middle Grades Education Dissertations

Many secondary students struggle with writing, both in terms of skill and confidence. This qualitative case study follows six students who have a history of struggling in English Language Arts class as they undergo a tutoring intervention based on the writing center model of peer tutoring. Students were observed in seven writing sessions which took place at multiple stages of the writing process and with informational, narrative, and analytical writing assignments. Through interview and observation, the researcher examines how students’ self-efficacy and motivation shift over the course of the intervention. Students who began with low self-efficacy and low motivation were …

Courageous School Leadership: Rural Principals’ Perception And Self-Efficacy In Implementing Culturally Responsive Leadership (Crl), Angela Denise Young

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

Many rural school districts face concerns stemming from rural areas’ demographic and economic state— increased student diversity, high poverty, little parental involvement, lack of technological infrastructure, low student achievement, and difficulty hiring and retaining teachers (Gutierrez, n.d.). In increasingly diverse populations, rural school leaders need culturally responsive practices to address the various traditions and needs of the changing demographics of their schools and communities. Cultural responsiveness in schools begins with resilient, courageous leadership. Culturally responsive leadership (CRL) is a concept commonly associated with urban schools; however, there is a pressing need for such leadership practices in rural districts serving diverse …

Drawing About Writing: Exploring Egyptian Middle School Students’ Writing Motivation And Perceptions, Maryam Elbayady

Theses and Dissertations

The principal aim of this study is to explore Egyptian middle school students’ perceptions of their writing experiences using artistic expression, specifically drawings. It also aims to understand their levels of writing motivation using the Self-Beliefs, Writing-Beliefs, and Attitude Survey (SWAS) (Wright et al., 2019). Finally, it examines the relationships among participants’ perceptions, motivation, and their narrative writing performance. The view that students’ voices are valuable to research geared towards school improvement has largely propelled this study (Bland, 2018; Zumbrunn et al., 2017). In addition, due to the limited literature about middle school students enrolled at private Egyptian schools, this …

Self-Efficacy, Locus Of Control, And Their Effect On Online Returning Students' Graduation, Matthew Dean Greene

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this study was to understand the factors that affect returning students' ability to complete their degrees through online degree programs. Logistic regression was used to determine which factors had a significant relationship with persistence to graduation and how they contributed to the odds of students graduating. The findings show that academic locus of control and academic self-efficacy had a significant positive relationship with returning student persistence to graduation, with the locus of control contributing to the odds of graduation more than self-efficacy. Additionally, the amount of time between the student's initial dropout and subsequent return to complete …

Setting Goals For Patients With Type 2 Diabetes In Primary Care, Courtney Renee Padilla

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Background. Type 2 diabetes is prevalent amongst the Hispanic population and increases the risk of developing chronic serious health issues (CDC, 2022, April 4). Setting attainable and realistic goals for patients with type 2 diabetes is foundational in achieving glycemic control and improving quality of life (ElSayed et al., 2023a). Purpose. To increase goal setting in patients with type 2 diabetes in the primary care setting. Goal. To promote self-management in patients with type 2 diabetes. Objectives. 100% of staff and providers will attend an in-service on goal setting using a self-management goal tool; 75% of patients will choose to …

Bells Of Mindfulness: An Online Mindfulness Meditation Course To Promote Mindfulness Meditation For Phd Students, Michael Folland

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Over the last 20 years, there has been growing evidence of mental health issues in doctoral candidates worldwide (Zhang et al., 2022; Barry et al., 2019; Gewin, 2012; Radison & DiGeronimo, 2005). Practicing mindfulness meditation, which is one way to cope with stress and anxiety (Kabat-Zinn, 1991), could be a useful practice for these PhD students. However, despite all the evidence that suggests the health benefits of having a regular meditation routine, motivating graduate students to practice meditation can be challenging (Franco, 2020). This study addresses this challenge by assessing a 5-week mindfulness meditation course designed to support graduate students …

Postsecondary Students With Disabilities: Predictors Of Academic Performance/Gpa, Uzoamaka Barbara Okori

Theses and Dissertations

The determination of people with disabilities to enroll in postsecondary education did not remove the struggles and challenges of adjusting to the college environment despite the provisions of the legislation. Students with disabilities still had problems with degree completion, graduation rates, barriers caused primarily by their unwillingness to disclose their disabilities, and the support networks of these students. This study explores the relationship between the acceptance of disability, self-efficacy, support, and the academic performance/grade point average of postsecondary students with disabilities who receive disability accommodations through their institution’s disability service offices.

Although there has been an increase …

Assessment Literacy Influenced By Administrator Identity And Professional Learning Confident Administrators Within Kentucky Independent School Districts., Amy J. Harris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to gain greater understanding surrounding how administrators in northern Kentucky Independent School Districts describe their own experiences with assessments (assessment literacy). In addition, this study sought to gain knowledge from administrator experiences which may or may not have contributed to their confidence as leaders of assessment literacy. The context of this study was with the 11 Independent School Districts in the Northern Kentucky region, specifically with school level administrators. The significance of this study is to inform teacher preparation programs and current administrators of how and why individual self-efficacy and professional learning …

Emotional Intelligence, Self-Efficacy, And The Perceived Employability Of Traditional Undergraduate Business Students In A Private Midwest Educational Institution, Michele Ryan

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Emotional intelligence has gained increasing popularity since its definition and subsequent research 30 years ago. Numerous studies have focused on emotional intelligence and undergraduate students, and studies have demonstrated a positive relationship between a student with higher emotional intelligence and their academic and mental abilities. Undergraduate students have also been the focus of research related to self-efficacy and perceived employability, but those two facets have not been tied together with emotional intelligence. Additionally, managers have noted a skills gap for graduating students entering the workforce as students seem to be lacking emotional intelligence while thinking they have a sufficient amount. …

An Empowerment Evaluation Of Colorado Mountain College’S Mountain Scholars Program Via Latino Alumni Aspirational Goals And Outcomes, Laura Anne Bruch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative inquiry evaluated Colorado Mountain College’s (CMC) in-house Mountain Scholars Program (MSP) via semi-structured interviews with five of its Latino alumni. This study’s assets-based social justice/transformative philosophical framework included David Fetterman’s methodological empowerment evaluation and Tara Yosso’s conceptual community cultural wealth (CCW) theory. This dissertation in practice examined the gap in literature with regards to an in-house student support services program evaluation that partners with the community and focuses on Latinos’ aspirations and aspirational outcomes. I wanted to be a worthy witness to the student demographic group at CMC, as well as at most American postsecondary institutions, considered the …

An Educational Program To Improve African American Women’S Knowledge And Self Efficiency In Seeking Treatment For Endometrial Cancer, Lauren Elise Rosenthall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, there is a significant difference in the survival rate for endometrial cancer for African American women when compared to women of other ethnic groups, specifically White women. There is supporting evidence that supports that morbidity and mortality rates for endometrial cancer increase if diagnosed in later stages. There are many contributing factors to a patient receiving an early diagnosis of a disease. One of the key determinants to early diagnosis of endometrial cancer is understanding risk factors, and what symptoms require further evaluation. An educational program was developed to identify knowledge deficits in the African American …

Pursuing Culturally Responsive Math Teaching By Secondary Math Educators: A Professional Development Action Research Study, Emily Bell Redding

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study examines the use of professional development to build the self-efficacy of secondary math teachers in culturally responsive mathematics teaching (CRMT), with the hope to address achievement gaps of Black and Hispanic students. Seven math teachers from a school division in Southwest Virginia participated in a 9-week professional development that included virtual meetings to learn about CRMT, collaboration with colleagues, classroom applications, and self-reflection. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected throughout the 9 weeks in the forms of questionnaires, meeting transcripts, and reflection journals. The research study results found the professional development to build teacher self-efficacy, especially …

Improving Students’ Confidence And Competence Using Critical Media Literacy Skills In A Secondary English Language Arts Class, Leeanne Kline

Doctor of Education in Secondary and Middle Grades Education Dissertations

This is a dissertation for a six-week action research study that investigated how self-regulated learning strategies can affect students’ perceived and demonstrated critical abilities in discussing informational media texts in the secondary ELA classroom. This dissertation examines topical research, gaps in the literature, and theoretical frameworks to justify the study. The qualitative action research study implemented a version of the Article of the Week program alongside self-regulated learning (SRL) and student-led discussion strategies to collect data on students’ self-reported levels and observed critical media literacy (CML) skills. The purpose of this study was to build upon existing research on SRL, …

Investigating The Effect Of Universal Design For Learning On Learner Performance, Engagement, And Self-Efficacy, Ana Elizabeth Redstone

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

This study sought to address the gap in knowledge about the effect of UDL features on asynchronous online postsecondary learners’ achievement, engagement, and self-efficacy. The study also described a process for redesigning an online course to incorporate UDL components and provided specific examples of the implemented UDL guidelines. The study was conducted in a three-phase multimethod research design, which included quantitative and qualitative data collected from the participants, the learning management system (LMS), and the course instructor.

In collaboration with the course instructor, the researcher redesigned an existing asynchronous online university Computer Science course using UDL guidelines to address learning …

Learning Journey Towards Reconciliation: Developing Teacher Self-Efficacy, Birgitte Biorn

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Current changes in curriculum and provincial teaching standards are intended to address the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Teachers are responsible for implementing the changes but do not yet have the knowledge or skills to effectively manage the transformative changes being suggested. This organizational improvement plan (OIP) aims to address the problem of practice associated with teacher efficacy to incorporate Indigenous-Informed pedagogy (IIP) using the collaborative model of professional learning communities (PLC). The triadic determination of beliefs, skills, and environment of social cognitive theory by Albert Bandura is highlighted as a necessary structure to ensure that …

Fostering Self-Efficacy And Autonomous Motivation To Aid In Mastering High-Order Writing Skills, Jessica Nowacki Van Denheuvel

Graduate Teacher Education

Students need to be able to write to be successful in school, personal life, and professional settings. In upper elementary, fourth- through fifth-grades, students shift from basic to high-order writing skills. The increased cognitive load can overwhelm students and even lead to task avoidance. Self-efficacy and autonomous motivation assist students in engaging and sustaining complex tasks. This literature evaluated fifteen primary research studies on how teachers may foster these constructs to aid in students’ development of high-order writing skills. Three strands were revealed. The first strand explored the state of writing instruction - the influence of standards-based educational systems and …

Fostering Reading For Enjoyment In Upper Elementary Students By Developing Connections To Reading And Increasing Self-Efficacy, Patrick Ritt

Culminating Experience Projects

Data shows that fewer students are choosing to read for pleasure. Fostering students’ intrinsic motivation to read and developing skills to personally connect with texts, along with authentic literacy instruction has shown to increase how often students choose to read and for how long they read. Upper elementary teachers should create inclusive libraries, help students connect with interesting texts, develop useful independent reading time, and implement authentic and cross-curricular learning activities as part of literacy instruction. This project will help teachers assess student motivation to read and match students with appropriate and interesting texts. This project also provides methods for …

Reflecting On Design: A Study Of The Relationship Between Beginning Landscape Architecture Students’ Graphic Skills And Self-Efficacy Through Hybrid Assessments And Reflective Writing, Rachel Michelle Nobles

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the connection between self-efficacy, reflective writing, and graphic quality inside a first-year Landscape Architecture design studio. Reflective writing and self-efficacy can be studied to better understand how to motivate students within a design studio. Bandura (1977) defines self-efficacy as the belief in one’s own capabilities relating to motivation, behavior, and environment. Reflective writing is overlooked as a mode of advancing knowledge in the design process (Lousberg, 2019). The data were collected with pre- and post-semester Likert scale questionnaires, graphic skill-building tests, and reflective writing. To determine growth, the pre-and post-Likert-type questionnaires and …

The Effect Of Coping Verses Mastery Models On The Level Of Self-Efficacy For Self-Regulated Music Learning, Self-Efficacy For Classical Guitar Playing And Guitar Achievement For Undergraduate Non-Music Majors, Patrick K. Feely Mr

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of learning via mastery versus coping models on self-efficacy for self-regulated music learning, self-efficacy for classical guitar performance, and achievement in classical guitar performance. A secondary purpose of this study addressed the extent to which these three variables were correlated. The sample consisted of 86 undergraduate non-music majors recruited from two beginning guitar courses at a large Canadian university who reported limited previous experience with playing the guitar. Achievement in classical guitar performance was measured using the researcher-constructed Classical Guitar Performance Rating Scale. Data regarding participants’ self-efficacy for self-regulated music …

How Interactions With An Academic Advisor Influence The Self-Efficacy Of Online And Distance Education Students, Tonya Renae Fulk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Institutions of higher education are experiencing an increasing number of students enrolling in online or distance education courses. The majority of these students are adult learners. The increase in enrollment is beneficial to institutions of higher education, but it is overshadowed by the low degree completion rate for online and distance education learners. Academic advisors play a crucial role in guiding students to degree completion. While there has been research on the potential contributing factors in online and distance education student retention, the research has been lacking in how communications with academic advisors may influence students’ levels of self-efficacy. The …

The Transformation: Teaching Critical Thinking And Clinical Decision Making In Nursing Education, Winifred Ferguson Adams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The profession of nursing has recognized in the past 20 years the need for graduate nurses to enter the profession prepared to care for complex medical patients in an ever-changing healthcare environment. It has become a major challenge for nurse educators to provide students with adequate didactic and clinical education in nursing. The overall purpose of this project was to help nurse educators accept the challenge required to make the radical transformation in education. Faculty participated in the measurement of self-efficacy pre and post-exposure to teaching strategies related to (1) critical thinking, (2) clinical judgment, and (3) clinical reasoning …

A Study Of The Perceptions Of Professional Development Programs For K-12 Teachers In Transition, Kimberly S. Alfred

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The global pandemic of 2020–2021 forced many K-12 schools across the world to require the ability to teach both in a traditional setting and also in a virtual environment. While many leaders thought the transition from traditional to virtual instruction would be easy, it actually proved to be more difficult than first imagined. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how K-12 traditional teachers in Texas describe their professional development experience after moving from a traditional setting to a virtual environment and then back again, pre- and postpandemic. Three research questions guided this study: (a) How do …

Increasing Medical-Surgical Nurses' Palliative Care Self-Efficacy Using The Cares Tool: A Quality Improvement Project, Rebekkah L. Stanko

Nursing (graduate) Student Scholarship

Background: Over 35% of all deaths in the United States occur in the acute care hospital setting, and 75% of end-of-life (EOL) patients require palliative care. Registered nurses (RNs) with strong palliative care self-efficacy (PCSE) promote positive death experiences for patients and families by minimizing patient suffering and maintaining clinical and ethical standards. Employers can enhance RNs’ PCSE through educational interventions and resources.

Problem: Inpatient acute care hospital RNs lack PCSE because acute care is traditionally curative, and RNs receive limited EOL care education.

Methods: A quality improvement project was conducted. Participants were a convenience sample of RNs …

Homeschool Support For Parent Educators, Shannon P. Weigel

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect parent involvement in homeschool groups has on parent self-efficacy within the domains of content knowledge, required administrative duties, teaching strategies, and social-emotional well-being. The quantitative, non-experimental study utilized a modified survey instrument based on Bandura's (2006) “Guide for Constructing Self-Efficacy Scales.” The 56 study participants were homeschooling parents in the United States of America. The independent variable was involvement in homeschool groups and the dependent variables were the four domains of self-efficacy. The researcher sought to discover if the level of involvement in homeschool groups exerted a statistically significant …

Teacher Self-Efficacy In Novice Job-Embedded Practitioners, Shay Shannon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Each year, thousands of novice teachers are hired, and within a few years, many of these teachers decide to leave the profession. Job-embedded practitioners, teachers who have yet to fulfill their academic requirements at their universities to become fully licensed teachers and are taking an alternative route to obtain their teaching licenses, comprise a large proportion of those novice teachers. Local and state school districts spend thousands of dollars trying to recruit new teachers to balance high attrition rates. With current teacher shortages nationwide, schools must find novel mechanisms to combat teacher attrition, rather than constantly hiring new teachers to …

1, 2, 3: Counting On Problem Based Learning To Improve Mathematical Achievement In African American Students, Kelley P. Spahr

Theses and Dissertations

Mathematics is an important component of our everyday lives. It involves necessary skills, such as computation, problem solving, and critical thinking. In spite of this, a significant portion of our students are unable to demonstrate proficiency. These students are typically the underserved, marginalized students who are over represented in remedial classes and behavioral statistics (Gibson, 2022; Harper, 2010, 2021; Zilanawala, et al., 2018). This research study presented two instructional interventions, culturally relevant pedagogy and problem-based learning, to examine the impact of self-efficacy, critical thinking, and mathematical achievement. This study utilized a mixed-methods triangulation design. The participants of this study were …

Personality Profile Analysis Of Elite Powerlifting And Strongman/Woman Athletes, Anthony Ankley, Erin Kasmarik-Mallett

Master of Science in Kinesiology

PURPOSE: Personality profiling with athletes has been used to identify ideal candidates for high-level performance, program more effectively, and develop personality traits that might prove beneficial. A significant amount of research has been targeted using the Big Five Personality traits which are neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness, and extraversion. Self-efficacy has also been studied heavily within elite athletes. However, the personality profiles of elite Powerlifters and Strongman/woman have not been developed or studied. The purpose of this investigation is to identify a general personality profile of elite Powerlifting and Strongman/woman athletes. The secondary aim is to compare the personality profile of …

The Influence And Impacts Of Critical Literacy Intervention In Preservice Teachers Culturally Responsive Teaching Self-Efficacy: A Mixed Methods Study, Heather Lynn Hall

Theses and Dissertations

Critical Literacy (CL) is a teaching strategy that is designed to promote critical consciousness and enact social justice change as learning occurs. Critical literacy can promote and included in teacher education programs as a tool to increase Pre-Service Teachers (PST) Culturally Responsive Teaching Self-Efficacy (CRTSE). The researcher examined the impact of implementing CL instruction as an invention in teacher education programs to study their self-efficacy in culturally responsive teaching in this mixed methods study. The participants (n=90) reported a statistically significant in CRTSE, along with an increased understanding of terms and frameworks of CRT and CL as well as increased …

Empowering Teachers To Support Mtss Students: An Action Research Study, Sahalija Dentico

Theses and Dissertations

In 2018, the elementary school where I serve as an instructional interventionist adopted a data-based multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS). Although our process has evolved over the years, I saw room for improvement. Therefore, the purpose of this action research study was to improve the MTSS process at my school, specifically by addressing teachers’ lack of awareness of their role. Framing the study with a combination of social cognitive theory and curriculum ideologies, I explored 12 English language arts teachers’ perceptions of the MTSS model, curricular views, and sense of self-efficacy. Through a two-phase, mixed-method approach, I investigated how sharing …